Granny Gráinne
Me daughters Ériu, Banba and Fódla thought it best that I give Beannaithe's story some rest for a night or two. I weren't happy 'bout it but, not wantin' me daughters revokin' me bedtime storytelllin', I did as they asked. Instead, I thought I'd allow me grandkids to ask me questions about members of their family. I weren't gettin' any younger, and there're things they'r probably interested in knowin'...
'Granda, will ye tell us about our granny?' asked Diolun.
'Your granny were called Grainne,' I says. 'I loved her from the moment we first met.'
Darowva sighed. The wee lass enjoyed hearin' love stories.
'She were clever,' I continued, 'and as sweet a lass as ever a lad could wish for.'
'Were she a chailín álainn?' asked Dooli.
I smiled to hear him usin' the ancient tongue of our folk.
'Aye, as fair a lass as I'd ever laid eyes on before or since our first meetin',' says I.
'What did she look like?' asked Darowva.
'Very much like ye, or at least that's how I imagine she looked when she were a wee lass like yourself. She and I only met after she'd come of age,' I answered.
'Ye mean she looked like me mam?' Darowva asked.
'Aye, just so, now that ye mention it,' says I.
Thinkin' upon me departed wife brought a tear to me eye. I wiped it away when I thought me grandkids weren't watchin'.
'How did ye meet?' asked Dooli.
I weren't surprised by the question so much as I were by who asked it. It seems me eldest grandson were startin' to notice lasses in the village. It would not be long before he'd be askin' lasses his age to dance at the festivals. Ah, I remember those days well!
'We met at a festival,' I answered. 'Bealtaine as I recall. It were a grand time with the lightin' of the bonfires and the drivin' of the cattle to the summer pastures...'
I reflected long on those lovely days of yore.
'Granda? Granda!' said Dooli.
'Aye, what is it lad?' I asked.
'Ye were talkin' bout how ye and Granny Gráinne met,' he reminded me.
'Were I?' I asked. 'I suppose me mind were wanderin'.'
Me grandkids laughed. Diolun started makin' kissin' sounds.
'All right, that's enough,' says I. 'Ye've had some fun at your Granda's expense, and I suppose I've earned it, but let's get back to our story, um, I mean your questions.'
'How long before ye kissed her?' asked Darowva.
'I don't recall,' says I. It weren't the truth, but these questions were gettin' a wee bit too personal for me likin'.
'But it don't matter none,' I continued. 'Ye grandkids are here, and without kissin' your mams wouldn't be here, and without your mams there'd be none of ye!' I laughed.
'Aye, I guess that's right,' said Daibhidh. His cousins mumbled their agreement with him.
'So what happened to Beannaithe after the Dwarf died and she quit her smithin'?' asked Diolun
That's when me daughters stepped in.
'All right, ye rascals!' laughed Banba, tryin' to lighten the mood. 'It's time for ye all to go to bed.'
'Do we have to?' complained Darowva.
'Best listen to your mams,' I said.
'Aye, if ye want to be big and strong some day ye'll need plenty of sleep,' said Ériu.
Fódla stood starin' at her sleepin' daughter a moment. Beacha looked like a wee angel.
'Would ye like me to carry her for ye?' I asked me youngest daughter.
'Aye, since ye're offerin',' said Fódla. She lightly touched me arm.
I scooped wee Beacha up and carried her to bed. Such a darlin' she were.
This ends Part Two
